Madurai
In the chargesheet that was submitted by Special Public Prosecutor, Sheela, to the judicial magistrate Selvakumar, it was claimed that granite was illegally mined in government poromboke land and in water bodies in villages around Melur.
Due to this, the exchequer suffered loss to the tune of Rs 1,398.37 crore. Evidences proving the illegal mining activities, photos, bills, their export status and details of the countries to which they were despatched were attached along with the chargesheet.
It is worth remembering that 78 cases were filed by district administration against illegal granite mining and for 29 cases the charge sheet were filed earlier. The scam came to light after IAS official U Sagayam, during his stint as collector of Madurai sent a report to the State Government about the rampant illegal granite mining by several private companies near Melur. He also alleged that the illegal activity caused loss to the tune of several thousands of crores to the government.
Later, when the issue reached the court, he was appointed as the legal commissioner to probe the scam. He held several sessions in Madurai and recorded the statements of several residents in connection with the granite mining activity in villages near Melur.
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